[O]ur first order of priority for nations like ours is the development of long-term strategies and investments to lift productivity and enhance our international competitiveness.

In Australia this means things like:

• The review and reform of federal–state relations and reducing the dysfunctional federalism that’s acting as a brake on economic growth;

• Reducing the burden, and increasing the efficiency, of tax and regulatory systems to support the potential for business to contribute to the economy;

• Improving and increasing infrastructure, especially in the supply of water, in transport, in energy and in broadband;

• Increasing workforce participation to support both individual opportunity and economic growth;

• Implementing an effective, market-based response to climate change;

• Pursuing more international trading opportunities for our businesses; and

• Creating systems of excellence in early childhood, school, vocational and higher education.

Within each of those priority areas for reform, we have or are in the process of implementing major commitments.

In our view this is the modern agenda for nation building that we believe will become a model for similar countries around the world.

Easy to say -- perhaps Ms Gillard will return to these bullet points, say once a year for as long as Labor holds office, and rate each one in an annual report card to the nation.